Old Peikeng Tunnel Introduction
To carry out the improvement project of the Old Bagui Tunnel and its surrounding environment, the construction will commence from April 21, 2025, at the northern entrance area of the Old Bagui (pedestrian) Tunnel (including the restroom and the path next to the restroom leading to the Governor’s Office trail) and at the southern entrance of the tunnel. For more details, please see the link: https://www.scenic.tycg.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=9476&s=1558831. Are you ready to head to the Bagui Tunnel? You need to clarify whether you are visiting the new tunnel or the old tunnel! The Taiwan Provincial Highway 7 connects Cihu and Fuxing, which currently features both tunnels; the New Bagui Tunnel today is a two-way road, while the Old Tunnel has been repurposed as a leisure trail, with both tunnels silently witnessing the historical changes of Bagui over the past half-century. To understand the origin of the Bagui Tunnel, one must first mention the strategic location of the Bagui area. Previously known as Bajie, the Bagui area was the essential route for traveling between Daxi and Jabanshan in earlier times. In 1944, the Japanese constructed a tunnel here for pedestrian use, air defense, and evacuation, also serving as a strategic point in Jabanshan, until it was blocked due to landslides in 1957. It wasn't until eight years later that it was reopened, now known as the Old Bagui Tunnel. The tunnel is approximately 343 meters long and 4.5 meters wide, with an inscription by then Provincial Governor Huang Jie at the southern entrance reading "Bagui Tunnel, Northern Section of the Cross-Island Highway." Later, due to highway demands, a new two-way New Bagui Tunnel was built. The restored Old Bagui Tunnel differs from its previous state; besides being made of reinforced concrete, it also allowed vehicular passage, but only as a one-lane road, so military police had to manage traffic at the tunnel entrance, a scene many people undoubtedly remember fondly. In 1993, the New Bagui Tunnel became a two-way road, officially marking the end of the transportation function of the Old Tunnel. After being closed twice, the Old Bagui Tunnel transitioned to a tourist trail in 2007. Inside, visitors can see the light rail established during the Japanese occupation period, along with the representative "trolley" (also known as a "handcart") that could carry both passengers and goods, allowing operators to control the speed. Today, the bustling scenes of laborers hauling goods in the Old Bagui Tunnel are gone, replaced by tourists riding the trolley for photos, experiencing the aura of the past. The Old Tunnel connects with the Governor's Office Trail, Bagui Forest Trail, and other ancient paths, making it a good stop for a complete visit.
